This Chicken Veggie Rice Casserole is the ultimate protein-packed, one-dish meal for busy weeknights. Made with precooked chicken, crisp vegetables, and a savory homemade sauce topped with buttery Italian breadcrumbs, this kid-approved dinner is a winner every time!
Chicken Veggie Rice Casserole has many basic, staple ingredients that come together nicely to create a great meal. Cooked rice and leftover/precooked chicken are mixed with diced green peppers, onions, celery and pimentos for a colorful, textured variety.
Rather than using a can of condensed soup (as found in many casseroles), we make our own sauce with a bouillon packet, seasonings and mayo (trust me, it works).
And of course this casserole wouldn't be complete without some buttered breadcrumbs on top! Yum!
Serve it with garlic bread or cornbread, plus a side salad, and dinner is done!
Jump to:
- 👪Why you'll love this chicken rice veggie casserole
- 🥘Ingredients for this easy recipe
- 🔪How to make chicken veggie rice casserole
- 🌿Healthy substitutions
- 👩🍳Creative chicken veggie rice casserole recipe variations
- 🍽Essential equipment needed
- 🍶Storing your chicken and rice casserole
- 💭Top tip: Use cold, day-old rice
- ✅Chicken rice veggie casserole FAQ
- 🥄More recipes with leftover chicken
- 🍽️Favorite dessert pairings with this easy weeknight meal
- 📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
- 💬 Comments
👪Why you'll love this chicken rice veggie casserole
| Prep time cut in half- Precooked chicken makes this meal a breeze. After you chop the veggies and cook the rice, there's not much more to it--other than mixing a few extras, making the topping (which is super easy) and popping it into the oven. Low maintenance- It doesn't get much easier than this. Isn't that the true beauty of a casserole? Once the work is done, this chicken rice veggie casserole bakes in the oven and leaves you alone until the timer goes off, giving you ample time to catch up on your favorite Netflix show! Highly customizable- Love different kinds of peppers?--Add some. Big on seasoning?--Toss more in. Like wild rice instead?--Swap it. I think you get the idea. |
🥘Ingredients for this easy recipe
- cooked rice- I typically use long grain white rice, but wild rice would also be good in this
- precooked chicken- may also use rotisserie or leftover turkey
- green pepper- you can switch this out for yellow or orange for more color variety
- onion- I like Vidalia for sweetness
- celery- kids love the crunch of this in the dish!
- diced pimentos- for added color and taste
- 1 packet granulated chicken bouillon- equivalent to 1 cube; I like buying it this way because you don't have to break it up
- reduced fat mayonnaise- I recommend Hellman's or Duke's
- salt and pepper- seasonings for the sauce
- butter & Italian bread crumbs- for the tasty topping
🔪How to make chicken veggie rice casserole
- Step 1: Combine cooked rice, cooked chicken, green pepper, onions, celery and drained pimentos in large bowl.
- Step 2: Make the sauce, then gently fold into the chicken mixture.
- Step 3: Place in a well greased 13x9 baking dish.
- Step 4: Mix the breadcrumbs and butter; sprinkle over the casserole and bake.
Hint: Don't overcook the rice! If it's too dry from overcooking, it won't be able to absorb the sauce.
🌿Healthy substitutions
- Swap Mayo for Greek Yogurt - Replace the ½ cup of mayonnaise with plain, non-fat Greek yogurt. This significantly reduces the fat content while adding a boost of protein and a nice tangy flavor that mimics the mayo perfectly.
- Swap White Rice for Quinoa or Brown Rice - Instead of 2 cups of cooked white rice, use cooked quinoa or brown rice. Both options provide much higher fiber content and a lower glycemic index, which keeps you full for longer.
- Swap Breadcrumbs for Crushed Walnuts or Almond Meal - Instead of Italian breadcrumbs, use crushed walnuts or almond meal mixed with a pinch of dried herbs. This keeps the "crunchy" texture but adds healthy omega-3 fatty acids and eliminates refined carbs.
👩🍳Creative chicken veggie rice casserole recipe variations
- Zesty Southwest Style - Swap the Italian breadcrumbs for crushed tortilla chips and stir in green chiles, black beans, and corn to give the dish a spicy, Tex-Mex flair.
- Mediterranean Fresh - Incorporate chopped spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese into the rice mixture, then top with lemon-zest Panko for a bright, tangy flavor profile.
- Buffalo Blue Kick - Mix a splash of buffalo wing sauce into your creamy base and add diced celery and blue cheese crumbles for a trendy, bold twist on the classic comfort meal.
Looking for another chicken and rice dish with some soulful, spicy flare? Check out Ham and Chicken Jambalaya!
🍽Essential equipment needed
- medium saucepan with lid (for rice)
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- scraper & chopper (not required, but super handy)
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- stirring spoon
- large mixing bowl
- small mixing bowl
- microwaveable-safe bowl
- 13x9 casserole dish , lightly greased
🍶Storing your chicken and rice casserole
Store any leftover chicken veggie rice casserole in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within 3 days.
Reheat, covered at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove cover and bake an additional 3-5 minutes or until heated through.
💭Top tip: Use cold, day-old rice
For the best texture, use chilled, day-old rice rather than freshly cooked warm rice. Cold rice grains stay individual and firm, preventing your casserole from becoming "mushy" after absorbing the savory homemade sauce. This is the secret to a perfectly textured "one-dish" meal every time!
✅Chicken rice veggie casserole FAQ
The best way to keep it moist is to use a binding sauce (like the mayo and bouillon mixture in this recipe). If it seems dry after reheating, you can pour a tablespoon or two of chicken broth or milk over the top to refresh the texture.
For this specific "lazy" chicken veggie rice casserole recipe, precooked chicken is recommended to ensure even cooking and a quick bake time. If you use raw chicken, you must sauté or boil it first.
While white rice is the classic choice for a softer texture, brown rice or quinoa adds a nutty flavor and more fiber. If using brown rice, ensure it is fully cooked before adding it to the casserole, as it requires more liquid and a longer cook time than white rice.
According to USDA guidelines, leftover cooked chicken should be stored in an airtight container at 40°F (4°C) or below and used within 3 to 4 days.
Yes, you can freeze cooked chicken and rice for up to two months. To prevent the rice from getting mushy, let the dish cool completely before sealing it in a freezer-safe container; thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.
🥄More recipes with leftover chicken
Wondering what else to make with your leftover chicken? Try these easy recipes:
For more ideas with leftover chicken, see the blog post: Easy Leftover Chicken Recipes That You Don't Want to Miss
🍽️Favorite dessert pairings with this easy weeknight meal
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
Chicken Veggie Rice Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ cup chopped green pepper
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup thinly sliced celery
- 2 ounces diced pimentos, drained
- 1 packet granulated chicken bouillon equivalent to 1 cube
- ½ cup reduced fat mayonnaise I recommend Hellman's
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup Italian bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Combine cooked rice, cooked chicken, green pepper, onions, celery and drained pimentos in large bowl.
- In a separate, small mixing bowl, combine bouillon, mayonnaise, pepper and salt; gently fold into large bowl.
- Place mixture into prepared, lightly greased casserole dish.
- Place butter in covered microwave-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on half power for 15 seconds. Add breadcrumbs to the bowl and stir until soft clumps are formed. Sprinkle this mixture over the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Barbara K. says
I definitely plan to make this quick and easy recipe for dinner.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Gayle H. says
Finally, a casserole recipe without condensed soup!
Kitchen Ready Betty says
Yes! And it's so easy and tastes great!